I am just starting out as an entrepreneur. What can I expect?

Entrepreneurs need to become graduates of life.

A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure of addressing graduates from Deakin University, and I felt totally inspired by these young people.

Before speaking I had watched them come to the stage and receive their awards – double degrees, honours degrees – many from distant countries, sent by their families to improve their opportunity in life. As I believe that the issues I spoke about are the qualities we need to succeed in business, here they are.

• Desire, discipline and commitment.
• Be prepared for the unexpected.
• Mix with those on the same journey of success.
• Be open to opportunities and ideas.
• Have a vision and plan to achieve that vision.
• Make sure your plan is flexible and adaptable to changing times.
• Choose a mentor to help you get to your destination.
• Make no excuses:
  Remember we all have the same amount of time as Einstein.
• If you believe, you will succeed.
• If you persist, you will get there.
• Be careful what you commit to.
• Be careful about what you fall in love with:
  Henry Ford fell in love with cars;
  Corey with parties!
• And equally who you fall in love with!!
• The most important personal skill will be your attitude:
  Will your cup be half full or half empty?
• Learn to sell your ideas, to persuade others.
• Be prepared to become that thing so loved and yet so derided in our society – a tall poppy (but not at the expense of others).
• Understand that to be trusted you have to be trustworthy.
• Accept that life is a learning journey.
• That failure and loss is part of life -setbacks are an integral part of success.
• It’s not what happens to you, but how you handle what happens.
• Have an attitude of gratitude; for every opportunity, every door that opens, is powerful way to live.
• Take advantage of very opportunity that comes along – even when you don’t think you are up to it, grab it, run with it, and do the very best you can.
• This is your life, your journey:
  You will only get one chance at it.

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To read more Marcia Griffin expert advice, click here.

Marcia’s latest book, High Heeled Success (pictured left), is a frank account of building a business from a solitary sales person to a multi-million dollar business with 4700 sales consultants around Australia and New Zealand. Contact Marcia to purchase. Marcia’s latest venture is skin care company griffin+row.